ATTN: SBC users

nfswift · Post by **nfswift** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 4:25 pm

Okay, I have decided to begin Project Fiero... within 6 months I'll have found a new donor Fiero (likely an 88 GT) and will have completed the swap, that's the idea anyway.

I'd just like to put a bunch of questions past any members out there who are running a Chevy 350 in their Fiero.

Roll call, I know you smallblocks are out there...

donk_316 · Post by **donk_316** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 4:42 pm

Small Block Chevy?? Werent they cool back in the 70s and 80s? :scratch:

nfswift · Post by **nfswift** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 4:46 pm

?You try driving 5.7L of ass-whoopin' in a Fiero and let me know?

product1620 · Post by **product1620** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 4:49 pm

Dude, have u ever driven a sbc fiero??? Oh and as far as I know there is only one person on this board who has a SBC and that is "MNFatz"

donk_316 · Post by **donk_316** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 4:51 pm

S8n has one too i think...

i HAVE driven a SBC fiero... yawn. when it wasnt overheating...

product1620 · Post by **product1620** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 4:57 pm

My question was directed at nfswift, btw.

product1620 · Post by **product1620** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 4:59 pm

This should probably have been posted in non-tech.

The Dark Side of Will · Wed Aug 16, 2006 4:59 pm

S8n has a Gen III (LS1 family)... NOT a small Chevy.

The Dark Side of Will · Wed Aug 16, 2006 5:00 pm

My advice is to find an aluminum block and a 3" crank. Build a CHEVY 302... it has the displacement and RPM characteristics more suited to the Fiero.

crzyone · Post by **crzyone** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 5:49 pm

Or a N* with displacement and rpm characteristics of a fiero :thumbleft:

Gotta love a dohc 279ci V-8

product1620 · Post by **product1620** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 5:54 pm

crzyone wrote:Or a N* with displacement and rpm characteristics of a fiero :thumbleft:

Gotta love a dohc 279ci V-8

I was thinking the same thing, but if he wants a SBC then he's probably looking for a simple swap.

donk_316 · Post by **donk_316** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 5:59 pm

product1620 wrote:if he wants a SBC then he's probably looking for a simple swap.

Simple.... but rediculously pricey for what you end up with.

The Dark Side of Will · Wed Aug 16, 2006 6:00 pm

If you go with a 240 HP crate engine, then it's overpriced... if you build a decent engine, then it's right in line with cheap ass swaps like the 3.4 DOHC. :bootyshake:

product1620 · Post by **product1620** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 6:01 pm

Simple.... but rediculously pricey for what you end up with.

I agree, thats why its not for me. Hey that rhymes.

crzyone · Post by **crzyone** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 6:21 pm

donk_316 wrote:
product1620 wrote:if he wants a SBC then he's probably looking for a simple swap.
Simple.... but rediculously pricey for what you end up with.

I don't think its overly pricey if you go with an early 90s N* and have Will build a harness from the stock harness. Would be much cheaper than going the way I did.

product1620 · Post by **product1620** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 6:31 pm

crzyone wrote:
donk_316 wrote:
product1620 wrote:if he wants a SBC then he's probably looking for a simple swap.
Simple.... but rediculously pricey for what you end up with.
I don't think its overly pricey if you go with an early 90s N* and have Will build a harness from the stock harness. Would be much cheaper than going the way I did.

SBC, not the N*.

crzyone · Post by **crzyone** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 6:40 pm

I suck at the internet.

nfswift · Post by **nfswift** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 6:50 pm

No, I havn't driven a SBC Fiero... sadly.

I understand that my swap would be both difficult and simple at the same time, but what I am looking for is the simplicity of the engine... a straight up 350 Chevy 4 barrel carbed V-8 (which I happen to have sitting in my yard). The other benefit of this swap is the possibility of doing a 383 next rebuild and stepping up the whoop-ass even more later on.

Once I finish with bolt ons IE aftermarket camshaft, custom exhaust, an exhaust dump, cold air, new intake manifold, MAYBE new carb and valve heads I'd be looking at a conservative 275HP and likely over 300ft-lbs torque at peak. Not much to yawn about there, especially considering what the powerband looks like and the ability to crack open those secondaries...

Getting the engine installed nicely and handling well on the road is the tough part. But I'm looking to drag it, not autocross and the like, on the other hand, I still want it to handle like the sports car it's meant to be.

Don't get me wrong, the twin-dual cam (minus lack of aftermarket), both series 3800s, the 4.9 caddy, and the Northstar are all fecking awesome once you have them built... I'd prefer to have a supercharger or EFI too but this is just the convenient build for me, and when it's tuned up good I'll have great power and still respectable gas mileage, and I'm willing to settle at that.

Plus I get the V-8 sound... "RRRRAAAAAAA!"

MNFatz · Post by **MNFatz** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 7:14 pm

I'm it for SBC around here at the moment. S8N has a northstar.

Mine's an 85GT ZZ4. My build thread is around here somewhere.

NOT an easy swap--far from a bolt in. There's about 1/2 an inch of clearance on the driver's side and somewhere around 1/4 inch on the passenger side. No frame cutting. Uses stock axles.

It's carb'd (edelbrock's version of an old quadratoilet) and I don't like to admit it. I've got a dual Throttle body setup that I'm about to try and megasquirt (look for the thread those of you who know)

p.s. The 4.9 is not, nor shall it ever be "kick ass" unless it's powering a garden tractor.

nfswift · Post by **nfswift** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 7:19 pm

Cool MN. These questions may sound stupid but bear with me.

How much of a pain was it to get installed, custom engine mounts? Engine cradle mods? You used the stock V-8 tranny right? How difficult was it to mount the tranny to the differential and what diff did you use? How well do they play together? Any idea how much horsepower you're putting down?

Does it go fast? :thumbleft: